Director of Next ‘Star Wars’ Movie Says Her Goal is to “Make Men Uncomfortable”

If I’m Kathleen Kennedy, then I have no choice but to fire Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. No offence to the filmmaker, but, we’re just three days into the new year, and she’s turning into a PR nightmare for Disney and LucasFilm.

Star Wars fans, the crazed, hyperventilating kind, and there are millions of them, are already scarred by the last trilogy, spearheaded by Rian Johnson’s full-on assault on their childhood. The last thing they want is to hear Obaid-Chinoy saying that her goal is to “make men uncomfortable.”

That’s literally what Obaid-Chinoy said in a recently unearthed clip that’s gone viral on social media:

I like to make men uncomfortable. I enjoy making men uncomfortable […] It’s only when you’re uncomfortable and have to have difficult conversations that you will, perhaps, look at yourself in the mirror and not like the reflection.

I’m starting to wonder if Obaid-Chinoy has even seen a Star Wars movie, and I honestly would not be surprised if she hasn’t. Just a few days ago, she stated, “it’s about time that a woman” shaped a Star Wars movie — completely unaware of Princess Leia? Rey?

Obaid-Chinoy’s background is in feminist non-fiction filmmaking, so it should not come as any surprise that she said this. If it’s a passion of hers, then so be it, make as many men uncomfortable as you want, but Star Wars fans are primarily male and they will likely be turned off from buying a ticket for Obaid-Chinoy’s upcoming film.

It’s still odd that, out of all the directors available to steer the sinking Star Wars ship into the right direction, Disney and LucasFilm decided it was best to hire a non-fiction filmmaker with barely any experience in studio filmmaking.

Yes, it’s not the first time this has happened, rookie filmmakers do get hired for Marvel and such, but Star Wars is the biggest IP in Hollywood and it’s been in dire straits for a few years now. There hasn’t been a film released since 2019, and the next one, titled ‘Jedi Order,’ will be directed by Obaid-Chinoy. Risky move.

This latest mess for Disney comes just a few months after CEO Bob Iger promised that the company would revamp their focus and “entertain first,” instead of delving into “messages.” Iger basically blamed Disney’s failures on the “progressive” messaging behind their movies. In his words, he wanted to “quiet things down after years of culture wars.”